Big Ticket Items

Decorator/planner photographer and food

Our parents are helping with reception (venue and food). If we were paying that, I would spend most money on that. Because we're not, we agreed to put a lot of money into a good photographer. The pictures and memories are all we'll have after its all over so it was worth it for us.

Spending the most on food for sure (hopefully about 225 guest) followed by the band then flowers (20 something tables). Saving by skipping favors, simple DIY invitations, both wedding rings will be simple and we're either skipping the honeymoon all together or doing a minimoon

Venue, dress, food & drink

Figure out what's important to you and FH and go from there.

For us it was a nice venue and good food. Then photography.

Food and bar, by far!! Honestly, it should be the largest part of your budget. We spent $13,000 on catering which was just over half our total budget. Then followed by about $4,000 for the venue (ceremony and reception at the same venue) and $2,800 for our photographer. Those were are 3 largest expenses.

The most on the venue, for sure. (all inclusive so food and alcohol being a part of those costs)

ETA: probably close to $18k for 125 guests.

Most expensive: Venue and styling. Least expensive- invitations, save the dates..got them for free because Minted screwed up my order like 6 times!

Venue and food are our biggest expense. Everything else I had to shop around for bargains because we spent so much in the venue and food. I am praying I can get the entire wedding under budget

Catering (which includes apps, buffet dinner with three entree options, open bar and cake) is definitely our biggest projected expense (we've only put down the deposit so far so not sure of total). Then our photographer followed by our ceremony/reception venue fees.

I actually saved a lot on my photographer because he's a friend from college (no worries, he's a pro--he's a photojournalist). We did the WPD Groupon to get personalized thank-you cards and address labels as well as our save-the-dates (that won't go out until October) so that saved some too. Also, hoping to save on flowers but we will see.

My Event Designers arey biggest expense.

Food/drinks, with venue a close 2nd. Food and drinks/alcohol is roughly $2000 right now for 40 ppl. Venue rental is $1500 for both privare room, small outdoor porch and large lighted pergola brick patio. It includes chairs, tables, plates, glassware etc.

The good news is that my venue doesn't charge for cake slicing which is nice, allows sparklers, almost all decorations. Very excited!

Half of the budget is spent on food, alcohol and photography in that order.

Most so far is going to venue and photographers.

I'm cutting costs by not having alcohol (my family is super opposed anyway, so it ends up being less stressful to just avoid it), having friends be videographer and DJ (they did a great job at my sisters wedding), I am going with my second choice for ceremony venue which is about $1k cheaper, we are not having a wedding planner, we are arranging the flowers ourselves, and we are having a small catering company, and our reception venue is letting us use all their chairs, tables, glassware, and silverware.